The Name by Pastor Abidan Shah

THE NAME – Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

Introduction: What emotions come to your mind when you hear these names? Mother Teresa, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, Adolph Hitler, Michael Jordan, Beethoven, SpongeBob, etc. All those names evoke a certain emotion(s) in us. What emotion does the name “Jesus” evoke in you? Joy? Peace? Fear? Doubt? Indifference? Jesus is the name above all other names. It changes everything. Today’s message is called “The Name” in our series titled Mind (Re)set from Philippians 2:5-11.

Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.

Question: What emotion does the name “Jesus” evoke in you? Joy? Peace? Fear? Doubt? Indifference? Have you called upon the name of Jesus to be saved?Peter said in his sermon inActs 4:12“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Context: Last weekend we learned that Jesus was/is highly exalted by God the Father. Included in his exaltation was the gift of a powerful new name. Listen again to verse 9“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”In the last message our focus was mainly on the meaning of his exaltation. In this message our focus will be on the significance of his powerful new name.Before we do that, here’s a question: Does all this matter for us? Of course! Once God opens our eyes to see how Jesus is exalted on high and why his name is so powerful, it will not only change the way we live daily but it will also change the way we worship him.3 things we will focus on in trying to understand the importance of his powerful new name:

I. WHO IS IMPACTED BY HIS NEW NAME?

10“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.”

Background:Older scholars used to say that Paul is referring to 3 different groups: “those in heaven” are angels, “those on earth” are human beings, and “those under the earth” are human beings who have died and are now in Sheol or demons. Some scholars through the years have claimed that Paul did not have 3 groups in mind. He was just being dramatic in his writing and he just means “everybody” will bow before Jesus. In recent years, there is a third view that is very convincing to me.It says that Paul is referring to mighty angelic powers that rule the 3 realms of our cosmos: astral (stars), terrestrial (earth), and chthonic (underworld). This is how the ancient peoples used to see their world. If you study the New Testament carefully, every time the name of Jesus is declared, the demonic beings fall before him. Let me give you some examples:

During the earthly ministry of Jesus:

Mark 3:11And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”

Mark 5:6“When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.”

Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Colossians 2:15“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

I Peter 3:22“who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”

What exactly happened in the humble incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus? We only think of our sins being forgiven through his death but much more was going on. There were powers that were hostile to him and wanted to destroy him. They thought that they had killed the Prince of Life. They thought that they could continue in their role of masters of the world. The incarnation and the crucifixion were a battle to reclaim what rightfully belonged to God!

Application:Are you facing a spiritual battle? Do you know that the enemy and his forces are defeated? 1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

II. HOW ARE THEY BOWING?

11“andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord.”

Background:Now that we know who these beings are, the next question is “What are they doing?”

Is it a confession leading to repentance?Of course not. Fallen angels do not repent. They do what their chief, the Devil, does – “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8)Redemption is only offered to human beings.
Is it worship?That Greek word “eksomologeo” in this context means acknowledge. It can have the meaning of praise but these beings are not capable of praising God. Praising God happens when our hearts are full of thankfulness for God’s goodness and power.

For these beings it is a solemn acknowledgement that they lost and he won. This is not a worship service. There is a similar gathering which is actually a worship service.Listen to Revelation 5 11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth (The word is not the same as in Philippians 2:10for the underworld)and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power beto Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Application:Which side are you on? If the demonic hostile powers are bowing before Jesus, what’s keeping you from worshipping him?

III. WHEN DID THEY STOP BOWING?

Background:If the demonic false angels are bowing to Jesus and acknowledging that he is in charge, the question that comes to our minds is “Why do they still harass us? Do they get up time to time and then come back?” The answer is – “Yes, they are subject to Christ but they haven’t faced their ultimate judgment.”

I Corinthians 15 24“Thencomesthe end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”

Romans 16:20“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”

Hebrews 10 12But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.

What is your posture until that day?Ephesians 6 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritualhostsof wickedness in the heavenlyplaces.13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Questions: